Mental Health Program Enhances Well-being in Machico
Madeira GuideThe PRIORIZAR program, focused on mental health and self-care, successfully engaged 55 participants across Machico, Santa Cruz, and Santana over 13 weeks, promoting holistic well-being.
A mental health initiative called PRIORIZAR, which translates to 'Prioritize' in English, was recently conducted at the Machico Health Center in Madeira. Over the course of 13 weeks, this program engaged 55 participants from the municipalities of Santa Cruz, Machico, and Santana. Organized by the Regional Health Service's Psychology Service (SESARAM), the program aimed to enhance mental health and self-care among its participants.
The program was led by clinical and health psychologists Paula ChapĂ©u, Bárbara NĂłbrega, and CĂria Correia. These experts designed the initiative to bolster well-being across various dimensions, including physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and relational aspects. By focusing on these areas, the program sought to provide a comprehensive approach to mental health within primary healthcare settings.
A notable feature of PRIORIZAR was its multidisciplinary approach, involving 13 trainers from diverse fields such as psychology, general and family medicine, nutrition, social work, and physiotherapy. These professionals hailed from SESARAM, the Regional Health Directorate, the Institute of Health Administration, and the Social Security Institute of Madeira. Their collective expertise underscored the importance of a holistic approach to mental health and self-care.
Between April and July, the program involved weekly practical and experiential sessions. These sessions were grounded in scientific evidence and supplemented by regular support and information dissemination to participants, aiding them in implementing the strategies covered in the sessions.
The program's success is evidenced by the high level of engagement and participation from the local population, reflecting a growing interest in mental health and quality of life initiatives. Due to the positive outcomes, the Psychology Service of SESARAM is already considering further editions of the program to continue its impact on regional mental health promotion.
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Madeira Guide
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